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Conjugate tener in the present tense in Spanish (El Presente)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Ana Matilla MA, BA
Last updated: 2023-03-16
19 questions

Tener (to have) is irregular in El Presente in Spanish.

Learn how to conjugate "tener" in El Presente in Spanish

yo tengo
tú tienes
él / ella / Ud. tiene
nosotros / nosotras 
tenemos
vosotros / vosotras
 tenéis
ellos / ellas / Uds.   tienen
Notice the yo form has a -g- and ten- becomes tien- in three of the forms.
Look at and listen to these examples:

Yo tengo un perro.I have a dog.

Tú tienes un coche grande.You have a big car.

Ella tiene una falda azul.She has a blue skirt.

Usted tiene 57 años.You are 57 years old.

Nosotros tenemos una casa en la playa.We have a house on the beach.

Vosotras tenéis una tía en Chile.You have an aunt in Chile.

Ellas tienen una guitarra española.They have a Spanish guitar.

Ustedes tienen una hija rubia.You have a blond daughter.

For more verbs that follow a similar pattern, see: 
Verbos yo-go (presente) and for verbs that derive from "tener" see Spanish verbs deviated from "tener"

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Examples and resources

Yo tengo un perro.I have a dog.
Tú tienes un coche grande.You have a big car.
Ella tiene una falda azul.She has a blue skirt.
Usted tiene 57 años.You are 57 years old.
Nosotros tenemos una casa en la playa.We have a house on the beach.
Vosotras tenéis una tía en Chile.You have an aunt in Chile.
Ellas tienen una guitarra española.They have a Spanish guitar.
Ustedes tienen una hija rubia.You have a blond daughter.
Clever stuff happening!